15 of our Favourite Female Mersey Music Maker’s 2018

With it being Women’s History Month we’ve been nostalgic this March at The Guide Liverpool when it comes to our phenomenal females.

With that, we came across our list of Liverpool’s Best Female Music Makers back in 2015 which made us very proud, and very excited about what that lot are doing these days, along with all the other women and girls trailblazing through the UK music scene.

Now is the perfect time to update our list of our favourite Female Mersey Music Makers. 

Katy Alex

Whether as herself, or part of the local duo, HALEM, Katy Alex has firmly made her mark on the local scene, having performed on the Main Stage at LIMF and being a staple for local Pop/Soul events. Her recent collaboration with Cameron Warren was in celebration of the Echo Arena, and AAC Liverpool’s, 10^th Anniversary. It’s the quality that we’re used to from Katy, and it’s got us excited for what is to come from her solo project this year.

Rebecca Ferguson

The (e)X-Factor contestant has well and truly shaken off the reality TV personality tag that plague the careers of many to become a real icon for women in todays music industry. She has real Soul, and not just in her voice, having touched the lives of many with her Superwoman single campaign that gave a voice to those whom have been affected by domestic violence.

She drew the gun

She drew the gun was also on our list from back in 2015 and the project is still as relevant and hard working today as it has ever been. Front-woman Louisa Roach is a lyrical master that packs a punch with her guitar work and hard-hitting song writing style. 2017 was a fantastic year that saw her debut album released and 2018 has started just as strong, having played for the NME Awards. SDTG always have one finger on the trigger and one eye on the target.

Eleanor Nelly

Eleanor was another that was previously on our list of Best Female Music Makers, and things have only got better, as they only would for the teenage prodigy. Since then, Nelly has gone on to sign for Decca records and tour the UK, releasing her own style of Neo-Folk to an ever-growing fan base. Still only a teenager, how much better can things get?!?!

Gazelle

Now, for the something certified fresh – Gazelle. Gazelle is not only a brand new act that has made waves almost instantaneously, but, also, her sound and image is undeniably quirky and forward facing. A cross over of Pop, Soul and Indie, Gazelle continues the local theme of exporting powerful females with their own distinctive style, something that is being lapped up by music fans all over the region.

ZuZu

ZuZu is an artist that has had a tendency to go unnoticed in the local scene over the past couple of years, however, she’s been working hard and doing well on the national circuit since 2016. Her video for, What You Want, made it impossible for her to be ignored or looked over, and this year is seeing her go on tour with Brit-Pop sensation, Tom Grennan and Abbie Mac, hopefully signalling that we are going to be treated to some new tunes very soon.

Esme Bridie

We’re knocking out female Folk ‘stars-to-be’ like they’re going out of fashion here on Merseyside, and they certainly are not anytime soon. The genre is massively popular these days thanks to the Scandinavian influx into the UK music scene. Esme’s angelic vocals and finger picked guitar style fuses the haunting Scandinavian-esque sound with the familiar tones of Irish Folk, making it as accessible as it is creative. Her debut album is out at the end of the month accompanied by a UK tour and launch show at Studio 2.

Katie Mac

Katie Mac hit 2018 running, releasing new music, videos and playing what seems like an endless run of live shows. Following a path carved out by fellow female artists such as Stealing Sheep, Mac is first and foremost a singer songwriter. However she doesn’t firmly sit in the same category as the likes of Eleanor Nelly and other female Folksters, as she has more of a raw, Indie edge to her sound.

Mary Miller

Mary Miller is offering our list, and the Liverpool music scene, something a bit different. Her sound has a distinctive 80s element to it whilst maintaining roots in the Alternative, Indie movements of the 90s which have become such a staple of recent years. Miller was a member of the LIMF Academy and has now been given funding by Festival Republic and PRS to record her debut EP, something we have been itching for since last year.

Stealing Sheep

This Psychedelic-Folk 3-piece is a modern classic of the Liverpool music scene. The band has never stopped working since their formation in 2010 and it’s that which leaves us, and many audiences, in awe. Stealing Sheep are unafraid of trying new things, swapping their instruments for the DJ decks as of late, a trait that will no doubt keep them going creatively as much as it will career wise, meaning that there is always going to be something exciting on the horizon for the band and it’s loyal fan base.

Pink Kink

Pink Kink brings the feminist Post –Punk style, reminiscent of Pussy Riot, to the Merseyside, and UK, music scene – something that we all need an earful of right now. The imagery is provocative and psychedelic, heightening the experience when you see their energetic live show. The band have some brilliant material out that is certainly eye, and ear, catching, but there is nothing like seeing them in the flesh. Lucky for us, they are forever touring, in the UK and in Europe!

Deliah

Deliah was once a duo consisting of Michelle Harris and Alex Dop, however, 2018 has seen the band turn into a 4 piece amongst other subtle changes that has got us wondering what is to come. Good job that we’ve got someone on the inside to let us know that an overhaul is coming to present a new Deliah with a new sound. But, we’ve been assured that Michelle Harris’ powerful vocal and performance style is still going to be at the forefront of the project, like we’ve never seen her before. For now, enjoy this live session that was released towards the end of 2017 as we wait with baited breath.

Taya

Taya is smashing it. She’s smashing her career, the industry and life in general right now. Before she had even left her teens, Taya was in LA rubbing shoulders with the big producers, labels and other artists of the Pop world. After a year or so of development Taya has been releasing catchy, downbeat Pop reminiscent of The Weeknd, who we wouldn’t be surprised seeing her alongside on a release one day.

Mersey Wylie

Mersey Wylie is another staple of the local scene playing every regional festival stage going and smashing it out of the park each time. She is a musician through and through, something that her loyal following that see and cherish. Her persona is as infectious as her grooves and we’re excited for the 2018 festival season to catch her on those stages.

Frances

Frances was an export of LIPA, along with a few others on the list that exploded out of the institution. John Lewis used her songs on one of their TV adverts, she has piers such as Sam Smith and was touring the UK and the US! Since then she has taken a step back to focus on writing for other artists including Meghan Trainor, Disclosure and Jess Glynne. Frances has been very honest on social media about her struggles with anxiety and why she took the step back into doing what she truly loves, something that should be an example and beacon for other people with similar problems to follow.

There are, of course, many more fantastic women making music on Merseyside, with honourable mentions for the likes of Mersey Wylie, , Deliah, Lapsley and too many more to mention.

However, these 10 girls have been out doing it in the public eye as of late, so we look forward to those who haven’t made the list who have been grafting away behind the scenes to come back and remind us all of how amazing they all are.

Anyone you want us to be shouting about? Let us know on alex@theguideliverpool.com. Tweet us and Facebook us too.